He was 15-years-old and his family settled in Toronto.
Novak decided about three years ago it was time to retire and move out of a big city, but continue coaching tennis players.
His wife comes from the Port Elgin area so he started looking around.
"We found that there's sufficient amount of courts in the area, particularly the Maitland courts in Goderich and the courts at the Pine Lake camp ground, altogether about four or five courts. That was the place to be."
Novak says when he visited the Maitland Club courts he met Doctor Mike Dawson, who recognized his name from his professional career as a player and he was the one who introduced him to the tennis community in Goderich.
Novak adds he and Dawson teamed up that year and won one of the international tournaments hosted by the London Hunt Club.
Novak says in the three years he's been here, his summer tennis camp has grown very well and it keeps him busy.